Pair of “Top Contenders” Receive Honors

In February, the Top Contenders Gymnastics Academy announced that two of their athletes, Nico Maccario and Zach Myers, had been recognized for their accomplishments on the mat.

Myers was named to the 2025 Elite Team Cup roster, while Maccario received the Kurt Thomas Scholarship earlier this month. In a February 12 Facebook post, Top Contenders congratulated Myers for being named “one of the best gymnasts in the United States.”

“His diligent training has paid off,” the post continued. “Our very own Zac Myers has been selected for the Elite Team Cup hosted in Louisville!! Congratulations to his coach, Billy West, for helping his dream come true. The countdown is here….10 days! Go, Zac, Go!”

The 17-year-old gymnast will be representing Region Four alongside Jovan Jimeno, Gage Kalley, London Norris, Elii Osuna, Chase Pappas, Ori Reilly, Jackson Rendon, Michael Scheiner, and Gavin Thomson at the competition later this month.

Having also received coaching from Coach West, Maccario was awarded the Kurt Thomas Scholarship at the Kurt Thomas Foundation Gala in Plano, Texas, in September of 2024.

Fellow Top Contenders’ Coach Beth Soinski added that Maccario is one of only three students to have ever been given the prestigious honor, and she congratulated Coach West “for being the coach that helped Maccario achieve his dreams.”

At the gala, gymnastics icons Steve Butcher and Bart Conner were recognized for their contributions to the sport. Maccario even had the opportunity to meet Hall of Fame NFL Running back Emmitt Smith during the festivities.

“It has been amazing winning the scholarship,” Nico said. “It was really eye-opening. It was a really awesome whole experience. Meeting a bunch of gymnasts that I have looked up to my whole life was truly amazing. Like Bart Conner […] it was awesome meeting him.”

Maccario’s coaches and parents, Marcus and Diana, are proud of the 15-year-old gymnast’s accomplishments, and his mother understands better than most about the work that Nico has put into excelling as a gymnast.

Being a former gymnast herself, Diana had initially vowed not to have any of her children participate in the sport because “it was a different atmosphere back then.” Like any loving parent, though, Diana saw how much her son was dedicated to gymnastics and is fully on board.

Alongside the instruction of Coach West, the younger Maccario practices 28 hours a week to hone his craft and has even become a member of the US Gymnastics National Team in the process. Diana was adamant that Nico “does not give up his childhood,” but she could not deny what the sport has done for him.

“Gymnastics has helped grow him into the teenager that he is now, and he is able to focus on maintaining school as well as athleticism,” Diana said. “I think without the sport, he would not be as well-rounded as he is […] Even if you are not one of the top gymnasts, there are so many opportunities to continue if there is a passion for the young boys that are out there.”